Spartans knock off 7th-ranked Kansas

KEITH APPLING scored 19 points, including a brilliant drive with 13.5 seconds left, and No. 21 Michigan State rebounded from a season-opening loss with a 67-64 upset of No. 7 Kansas on Tuesday night in Atlanta at the State Farm Champions Classic.

The Jayhawks (1-1) led, 59-54, with 5 minutes remaining, showing signs of taking control in a game that was tight all the way. But Michigan State (1-1) rebounded behind its brilliant guards.

Freshman Gary Harris scored 18 points, including back-to-back baskets that sparked an 8-0 run. Down the stretch, it was all Appling.

He confused the Kansas defense playing off a screen, winding up with an open three-pointer with 1:35 remaining that pushed Michigan State to a 65-61 lead. Ben McLemore converted a three-point play, but Travis Releford missed a potential tying three at the buzzer.

Elijah Johnson led Kansas with 16 points.

Kansas center Jeff Withey, who played so well in last season's NCAA Tournament, wasn't much of a factor against the Spartans. He was held to eight points and seven rebounds, along with four turnovers.

But the big man knocked down a hook, giving the Jayhawks what amounted to a comfortable lead in this one - a five-point margin.

Not comfortable enough.

Michigan State, which fell to Connecticut Friday in the opener at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, scored the next eight points. Harris swished a jumper, then darted into the lane to flip in a one-hander. Derrick Nix hit a pair of free throws on separate trips to the line, putting the Spartans ahead. Then, after Withey fumbled away an errant pass from Johnson, Branden Dawson hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead with a little more than 2 minutes remaining.

Johnson finally snapped the run, drawing a foul on Harris and hitting both free throws.

But Appling picked up a screen, darted away when Withey popped out to help, then wound up with an open look from beyond the arc when Withey turned back for the lane and got tangled up with his own man.

Appling's shot was right on the mark, pushing the lead to 65-61.

Then, after McLemore's three-point play, Appling drove past Withey with a lefthandled dribble, cradled the ball and banked in the shot between two defenders that left Kansas with no choice but to try a three.

Releford got a look as time expired, but his shot clanked off the side of the rim.

At Michigan, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 points and six rebounds, and the No. 5 Wolverines (3-0) advanced to the semifinals of the NIT Season Tip-Off with a 77-47 victory over Cleveland State (2-1). Michigan has won all three games by 30 points or more.

* At Missouri, Phil Pressey scored 21 points and Laurence Bowers added 14 - all in the second half - to help the No. 14 Tigers (2-0) rout Alcorn State (1-1), 91-54.

* At Connecticut, Shabazz Napier scored 13 points and freshman Omar Calhoun added 12 to lead the No. 23 Huskies (2-0) to a 67-49 win over Vermont (1-1).

* At Cincinnati, Sean Kilpatrick scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half, leading the 24th-ranked Bearcats (2-0) to a 102-60 victory over Mississippi Valley State (0-2).

Already shorthanded to start the season, No. 10 Florida could be without forward Erik Murphy against No. 22 Wisconsin on Wednesday night, becuase he is suffering from flu-like symptoms, including headaches and nausea.

The Gators (1-0) also will be without starting point guard Scottie Wilbekin (suspension) and reserve forward Casey Prather (concussion).

* The NCAA suspended San Diego State freshman forward Winston Shepard for three games for violating an unspecified rule. SDSU said it has appealed the penalty, but the suspension will be enforced during the process.